Derived from a quarterly survey that Cox Automotive issues to a representative sample of franchise and independent auto dealers, the Cox Automotive Dealer Sentiment Index measures dealer perceptions of current retail auto sales and sales expectations for the next three months as “strong,” “average” or “weak.” The survey also asks dealers to rate new-car sales … Continued
ATLANTA, Dec. 10, 2018 – According to data from the Q4 2018 Cox Automotive Dealer Sentiment Index (CADSI) released today, U.S. auto dealers became more negative than positive in describing the current market in the fourth quarter. The current market index fell to 44, down from 51 in the third quarter. Expectations for the next … Continued
Price pressure, rising interest rates and a shrinking supply of affordable vehicles have U.S. dealers worrying more about business as they look toward 2019. Dealers’ expectations for the next 90 days, a period that they typically view through rose-colored glasses, have turned negative, according to the Cox Automotive Dealer Sentiment Index survey for the fourth … Continued
Dealers should be cautious about boosting inventory in preparation for next year’s tax-refund season, Cox Automotive’s chief economist says. The increase in car buying typically fueled by tax refunds may fail to materialize. The 2017 tax-law changes are likely to reduce the number of shoppers with refunds and the size of those refunds next year, … Continued
Data from the Hearst families of companies — including Jumpstart Automotive and Black Book — showed how consumers continue to shift their interest toward used vehicles as new models become more expensive. However, Cox Automotive’s collection of experts reiterated that automakers certainly are not decelerating their efforts to keep new metal turning, using incentives and … Continued
Recent OEM exits of lower-priced vehicle segments will limit availability and squeeze auto affordability in 2019, said Jonathan Smoke, chief economist at Cox Automotive Inc. “We’re starting to see announcements from major manufacturers about ceasing production of mostly more affordable cars, and so that reduces the number of units available for sale,” Smoke said. In … Continued
After two years of working with dealers there, Autotrader has officially launched in Australia. Parent company Cox Automotive made the announcement Tuesday. “We’re thrilled to be launching this innovative automotive platform in Australia. Buying a car is a big decision that can come with a lot of risk. Autotrader’s goal is to reduce this risk … Continued
Holiday season deals propped up U.S. auto sales in November, limiting the scale of annual falls at some carmakers and putting overall figures on course to top analysts’ expectations, numbers from several top producers showed on Monday. No.1 carmaker General Motors posted a roughly 1 percent rise in sales, according to a source familiar with … Continued
Even Black Friday sales couldn’t save the sedan. Automakers largely reported that cars dragged on U.S. sales last month, in some cases despite booming SUV and truck sales. Meantime, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, which has been phasing cars out of its lineup, reaped the rewards in November. The November sales results beat some analyst expectations, as … Continued
As you may know, the F&I Department is perhaps the most rapidly-changing area of the dealership. From e-contracts to digital menus, you might be asking yourself “How can I use this new technology to enhance customer experience?” In this segment, CBT’s Jim Fitzpatrick speaks with Mazen Letayf, Associate Vice President of Product Management for Cox … Continued